WATERS VOWS MAJOR CHANGES TO THE FLOOD INSURANCE LAW THAT BEARS HER NAME. SHE SAYS THE BIGGERT WATERS ACT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO SEND INSURANCE PREMIUMS THROUGH THE CEILING.. AND AS HEATH ALLEN TELLS US.. SHE PUTS THE BLAME ON AN OLD NEMESIS. HE HAS THE STORY - FROM PLAQUEMINES PARISH. FEMA in my estimation has distorted the intentions of a well meaning piece of legislation, and has caused grief to families from coast to coast. CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS BLAMES FEMA FOR NOT DOING THE JOB THE BIGGERT WATERS ACT INTENDED THEM TO DO.. FAILING WHEN IT COMES TO FLOOD MAPS.. AND AN AFFORDABILITY STUDY. The Federal Emergency Management Agency which was charged with implenting the flood law cut corners and did not complete two important tasks that were central parts of the Biggert Waters legislation. If we don't fix this, you'll be having the Grand Isle fishing rodeo in Baton Rouge in a few years, and nobody will live south of there and that's unacceptable in Louisiana. WATERS CAME TO PLAQUEMINES LAYING OUT NEW LEGISLATION.. THE HOMEONWER FLOOD INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY ACT. IT DELAYS FLOOD INSURANCE RATE INCREASES FOR FOUR YEARS.. AND SEND FEMA BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. NEWS WELL RECEIVED IN THIS PART OF LOUISIANA. For her to come out against a bill that has her name on it an admit there were uninteded consequences, that's a sign of true leadership. It effects the coastal region from Florida to Texas, so we are looking at over 4 million people that actually be affected by this thing. This is a good day. WATERS SAID COUNCILMAN GRIFFIN CAME TO WASHINGTON AND MADE HIS CASE.. SHE LISTENED. THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM IS STILL FACES A HUGE DEFICIT.. BUT WHILE IT'S BEING FIXED .. WATERS VOWS FOLKS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY. If there is a Katrina or a Sandy or an Isaac or a Rita, we're not going to let those people stay out there with their homes and their lives destroyed and whole communities destroyed, it just increases the deficit. We need to continue to live here, and if insurance costs go to the point that its as much as a mortgage note, then a lot of us won't be living in this area. WATERS SAYS THE PROPOSAL HAS BROAD BASED AND BI PARTISAN SUPPORT. FOLKS HERE ARE READY TO SEE IT PASS. ON YOUR SIDE IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH, HEATH ALLEN WDSU NEWS. WATERS SAYS THE BILL COULD BE SIGNED INTO LAW BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. FROM COMMITMENT 20- 14